Command Tiger

[Anonymous]

On the Tiger-1 command versions such as OO7.It has three antenna’s, so these Tigers carried three radio’s right? If so what kind were they? And where were they stored in the Tigers interior? Were they in the turret? If so what side?
Anybody out there know for sure??[%-)]

[Anonymous]

I know that Tiger’s were typically outfitted with a FuG5 radio. I know the befehlswagen version had the FuG8 with the star antenna. Now what that other antenna was connected to I don’t know, maybe a back-up of the FuG5? Anyone else know?

Glenn

[TMN1]

The following information is taken from the book : Tankpower #14 PzKpfw VI Tiger Vol. II By Tadeusz Melleman. I have not been able to find other information and therefor I cannot confirm this information. Wether you want to trust it or not is up to you. I find it very believeble.

There were 2 versions of the Panzerbefehlswagen Tiger I, the Sd.Kfz 267 and the Sd.Kfz 268.

The standard antenna for the FuG 5 radio that all versions of the Tiger I carried had a whip aerial ( Stabantenne ) of 2 meters ( StbAt 2m )

The FuG 8 radio had a star aerial ( Sternantenne ) of 1.8 meters.
Note that the Sternantenne is mounted either on the turret or on the hull depending on what version it is, early, mid or late.

The VHF FuG 7 carried by the Sd.Kfz 268 which was the battalion commanders version of the panzerbefehlswagen Tiger I had a 4 meter extended whip aerial ( Stab Hochantenne 1.04D ; StbHAt 1.04 D ).

The reason there are 3 antennas in teh kit is probably that you can build both versions. As you can see for the drawings the arrangement of the Sternantenne and the normal whip aerial is optional for one of the versions, it can be either on the hull or the turret.

With the risk of violating copyrights here are som drawings of both versions from the book Tankpower #14 PzKpfw VI Tiger Vol. II By Tadeusz Melleman. ( Excellent book by the way )

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys, i did know tigers carried the FuG 5 radio. Wasnt sure about Fug 8 . Now I know what all three anteenes and radios are. But what I really need to know is where were they stored, next to the commander are the loader in the turret are some where else? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Hi Kernop,

There is some good information for you on the Tiger Tank H-E-181 site…
http://tigertank-h-e-181.com/index.htm

There’s a technical information page which has information about the FuG 5, 7 and 8 radios…
http://tigertank-h-e-181.com/15_%20Technical_Information_.htm

It states…

QUOTE: Sd Kfz 267 was fitted with Radio equipment Fug. 5 and Fug 8. (The abbreviation Fu in D656/22 reads as Fug).
Sd Kfz 268 was fitted with Radio equipment Fug. 5 and Fu9 7.

In 1943 Tiger “A” was standard Tiger E, except for internal modifications. About 84 Tigers rolled off production line. Both Command Tigers I A Sdkfz 267 and Sdkfz 268, had following parts removed ;

1. 1 Mantlet Mg.34 and relevant fittings and mountings.
2. 1 Mg. toolbox and cradle.
3. 1 MG. accessory box and cradle.
4. 10 pouches of ammo for MG 34, containing 1500 rounds plus mounting brackets.
5. 26 rounds of 8.8 cm rounds for main gun.
6. 1 Loader’s prismatic reflector/mirror.
7. 1 stowage bin to the right and in front of the gun loader.

Cleared space was replaced with following radio equipment ;

1. Command Observation tank Intercom System .
2. 1 set of radio equipment Fug 5 ( 10 Watt Ultra Short Wave Transmitter and receiver) fitted in turret.
3. 1 set of radio equipment Fug 7 ( 20 Watt Ultra Short Wave Transmitter and receiver), respectively.
4. 1 set of radio equipment Fug 8 ( 30 Watt Medium Wave Transmitter and receiver) fitted in hull .
5. 1 mechanical kit GG 400.
6. 1 Radio accessory/spares kit.
7. 1 Aerial connecting lead with Rear Aerial D for 30 Watt System Fug 8.
8. 1 Rod aerial 1.4 m long for 20 Watt System Fug 7.
9. 1 Rod aerial 2.0 m long for 10 Watt System Fug 5.
10. 1 Bin for aerial rods. Bin is fitted outside at the rear.

What’s interesting is I first found it by using Google, which reported the page didn’t exist, so I used the cached version. That one has more information and also has some pictures of the sets.

See if this works. The page is a bit funky because it’s cached, but here it is…

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:SaYofaQhX9UJ:tigertank-h-e-181.com/radio_equipment.htm

Since that page will eventually dissappear, I’ll quote the text here…

QUOTE: Radio Equipment in Command Tiger E

Following, is transcript from Turret Handbook D 656/22 for Tiger Ausf.E (Sd Kfz 181)

In 1943 Tiger “A” was standard Tiger E except for internal modifications and the 88gun ,a Kw K L 56. About 84 command Tigers rolled off production line. Both Command Tigers I A Sdkfz 267and Sdkfz 268, had following parts removed :

1. 1 Mantlet Mg.34 with all relevant fittings and mountings.
2. 1 Mg. toolbox and cradle.
3. 1 MG. accessory box and cradle.
4. 10 pouches of ammo for MG 34, containing 1500 rounds plus mounting brackets.
5. 26 rounds of 8.8 cm rounds for main gun.
6. 1 Loader’s prismatic reflector/mirror.
7. 1 stowage bin to the right and in front of the gun loader.

This resulted in performance downgrading of Tiger, but was insignificant when compared to what command Tiger did. Such Tigers were either in Battalion or Company category. These tanks were in contact with either headquarters or Air support units. Such units would pass information to Command Tank ,who in turn, issued respective orders to lower formations, on UKW ( Ultra High Frequency) whose transmitters had an approximate range of 4 miles. In this way commander was also constantly in contct with other tank commanders.Command Tiger had radio equipment Fug 8 with a 40 miles range, which allowed contact with HQ.

Main objective was to keep steady flow of communication between command post, Luftwaffe and platoons. In most cases Luftwaffe coordinated Stuka attacks and then advised Command Tank of the scenario. At that time tanks would advance towards enemy position.

Sd Kfz 267 was fitted with Radio equipment Fug. 5 and Fug 8. (The abbreviation Fu in D656/22 reads as Fug).
Sd Kfz 268 was fitted with Radio equipment Fug. 5 and Fug 7.

Cleared space was replaced with following radio equipment :

1. Command Observation tank Intercom System .
2. 1 set of radio equipment Fug 5 ( 10 Watt Ultra Short Wave Transmitter and receiver) fitted in turret.
3. 1 set of radio equipment Fug 7 ( 20 Watt Ultra Short Wave Transmitter and receiver), respectively.
4. 1 set of radio equipment Fug 8 ( 30 Watt Medium Wave Transmitter and receiver) fitted in hull .
5. 1 mechanical kit GG 400.
6. 1 Radio accessory/spares kit.
7. 1 Aerial connecting lead with Rear Aerial “Star” D for 30 Watt System Fug 8.
8. 1 Rod aerial 1.4 m long for 20 Watt System Fug 7.
9. 1 Rod aerial 2.0 m long for 10 Watt System Fug 5.
10. 1 Bin for aerial rods. Bin is fitted outside at the rear.

Command Tiger E 267 had Fu.5 & Fu 8 (10 Watt transmitter ‘C’& UKW receiver ‘E’) fitted in turret. (Fug.8 a 30 Watt transmitter and MW receiver ‘C’) located in hull.

Command Tiger E 268 had Fu.5 & Fu.7 (10 Watt transmitter ‘C’ & Fu.7 20 Watt transmitter ‘D’ and UKW receiver ‘D1’ Fug or Fu is German abbreviation of Funk Gerät which means Radio Equipment.

“UKW”, MW” and “LW” mean Ultra Kurtz Welle, Mittel Welle und Lange Welle. Translated into English they mean: Ultra short wave, Medium wave & Long wave. Letters “E” stand for Empfänger (Receiver) &“S” for Sender (Transmitter).

Fug 5 10 Watt.S ‘c’ operated on 27.2-33.3 MgHz
Fug 7, a 20 Watt. S. ’d’ used as Ground to Air transmitter. Frequency 42-47 MgHz
Fug 8, a 30 Watt. S. ’a’ operated on 1,110-3010 Kc/s

Matching receivers to all three transmitters were UKW.E early model, and UKW.E ‘a’ later model

Aerials for the above transmitters;

Star” aerial ‘D’ for the 30 Watt (Fu8). Location: Right rear end of tank.
Rod aerial 1,4 m for the 20 Watt (Fu7). Location: Left rear end of tank.
Rod aerial 2 m for the 10 Watt (Fu5). Location: Right side close to the cupola.

Seating Positions

Radio Operator 2, whose normal position was in hull, had two radio systems fitted on rubber mountings. Added to his standard Fu5 transmitter and UKW receiver ‘E’, a second set was fitted - either Fu7 or Fu8 and located to the left of standard equipment. This change made Tiger E either Sd Kfz 267 or Sd Kfz 268. The 267 had Fu 5 and Fu 8 and the 268 had Fu5 and Fu 7 radios.

The second Fu5 and UKW E receiver, was attached to the turret’s roof right side, where loader sat. MG34’s space was replaced by another Fu.5 which was suspended on straps and rubber insulating mountings. Loader now had a secondary role as a radio operator 1.

It was not an easy task to calibrate and fine tune radio, when tank was on the move, pitching, rolling and bouncing. Radio operator 1, now gave tank commander more freedom to concentrate on “running the show”.

As an example, I will briefly describe typical role of Command Tiger in air/ ground coordinated attack. The Luftwaffe’s ground control armoured vehicle communicates with Stukas and coordinates their attack, on enemy target. Once the enemy position had been weakened (usually heavy anti tank gun positions), panzers rolled out for mopping up, or engaging secondary targets.

Here’s a snapshot of the radio sets…

…and a pic from the original manual…

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys, thats some great info there, for anybody building a command Tiger ,such as wittmans 007 with a interior. I think this answears all of my question now. But one it sound like ,from what i read a command tiger like 007 would not have a turret MG34. Because it would have been replaced with extra radio sets. Would that be right? Like this Tiger.
http;/www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/german/tiger_tlehmann2.jpg